Contemporary authors of historical novels are invited to enter their work for the 2026 Winston Graham Historical Prize, with the winner to be revealed at a ceremony at the Cornwall Museum and Art Gallery in March.

The prize is named after the Poldark author, and is unusual in the literary world in that the shortlist is created by a large group of readers who whittle down many entries to just a handful of unmissable novels, all deemed to ignite the imagination with memorable characters and portrayals of a unique period in time.

Entries are now open to authors and publishers, with a deadline of October 1. The prize comes with a cheque for £3,000, the result of a bequest left by Winston Graham himself to what was then the Royal Cornwall Museum, where he researched many of his books in the Courtney Library.

Charlotte Hobson, author and chair of the judging committee, said: “Anyone with a historical novel out this year, be they a seasoned writer or a debut novelist, should feel encouraged to enter. The readers’ committee approach means that we often uncover some real gems that have been otherwise overlooked.”

To enter, novels must have been written by authors resident in the UK, published in the UK between September 30, 2024 and September 30, 2025, and be set at least 60 years ago in the UK and Ireland.

Last year’s winner, Andrew Miller for The Land in Winter, said: “Winning the Winston Graham Historical Prize was a huge encouragement for me. I’m very grateful to have this accolade to my name, as Graham’s books were early favourites of mine.”

Museum co-director Jonathan Morton added: “We’re extremely proud to oversee this literary prize, and it’s always exciting to see the submissions arriving. It reminds us of our connection with Winston Graham and other writers who have been inspired by the museum, which is home to over a million objects.”